U.S. Congress delegation arrives in Sudan over Darfur issue

A delegation of the U.S. Congress led by House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi arrived in Khartoum on Saturday evening on a two-day visit in Sudan.

The delegation is scheduled to pay a visit to Sudan's western region of Darfur on Sunday to view the humanitarian and security situations there.

Jamal Mohamed Ibrahim, spokesman of the Sudanese Foreign Ministry, said in a press statement that the Sudanese government welcomed the U.S. Congress delegation's visit.

"The visit will enable them (the delegation) to get acquainted with the reality of the situation on the ground, especially in Darfur, instead of relying on negative reports which are being circulated by some circles with the aim to impose sanctions and more pressures on Sudan and to influence the negotiation process in Abuja," he added.

Ibrahim also announced that the delegation would meet with senior Sudanese officials in Khartoum and the Walis (governors) and officials of Darfur states.

The U.S. delegation's visit came after U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said on Thursday that genocide was continuing in Darfur, adding that she was "very concerned" about the situation there.

However, the Sudanese government on Saturday rejected Rice's accusation, slamming it as "untrue and contradicting all reports issued by the regional and international organizations including the United Nations."

The Sudanese Foreign Ministry said in a statement that any

authentic parties who were concerned with what was going on in Darfur "have confirmed that this is not genocide."

On Tuesday, Congress Rep. Frank Pallone introduced with 36 co- sponsors a bill expressing disapproval for Sudan's hosting the next annual summit conference of the Arab League due on March 28- 29.

Pallone asserted that condemning the summit was another way of showing Congress' awareness of the genocide in Darfur, adding that the Congress would take action if the White House failed to act on the Sudan issue.

A proposed deployment of international peacekeeping forces in Darfur to help the 7,000-strong African Union (AU) forces monitor the implementation of a tentative ceasefire agreement between the Sudanese government and Darfur rebels is another problem raising tensions between Washington and Khartoum.

Sudan has voiced opposition to the deployment of international troops which will include U.S. forces in Darfur.

Rebels took up arms in Sudan's arid western Darfur region in February 2003, accusing Khartoum of negligence.

Source: Xinhua